Nintendo Switch 2 Data Transfer Issues Impact Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Players

Nintendo Switch 2 Data Transfer Issues Impact Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Players The launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 has been highly anticipated by fans eager to experience the next generation of Nintendo hardware.

As with previous console upgrades, many players have begun transferring their valuable save data and content from the original Nintendo Switch to the new system.

However, a significant number of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet players are reporting cases of lost save files during this transition, raising serious concerns within the community. A thread posted on Reddit first brought widespread attention to this issue.

The original poster described that, after following the standard startup and data transfer process on the Switch 2, their Pokémon Scarlet save data had vanished.

The player explained that the game simply booted up as though it were being played for the first time, bypassing any existing saves and prompting language selection and character creation screens.

Despite reporting that there were no technical issues during the transfer and that save data for other Pokémon titles remained intact, their Scarlet save — which included Pokémon collected and cherished for over two decades from earlier generations like Pokémon Leaf Green and Pokémon Diamond — was now irretrievable. Other users quickly responded to the thread, sharing similar stories of lost progress following the transfer to the Nintendo Switch 2.

The magnitude of the issue is especially poignant, as it highlights a longstanding limitation in Game Freak’s recent Pokémon titles for Nintendo Switch.

Games such as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Sword and Shield, and Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! do not natively support the Nintendo Switch Online cloud save feature.

This means that, unlike many other titles on the platform, players cannot automatically back up their progress to the cloud as a safeguard against data loss. In a paraphrased statement from a subreddit contributor impacted by the issue, they noted: "After purchasing my Switch 2 and completing the initial transfer, my Pokémon Scarlet save file was gone.

There were no errors in the process, and my other Pokémon data was intact, but not Scarlet.

I had Pokémon from my Game Boy Advance through to the present — nearly 20 years of history lost.

It’s discouraging and makes me question if I want to continue playing." With repeated reports surfacing, industry experts and community moderators are urging Pokémon fans to make use of Pokémon Home — the franchise’s official cloud-based backup and transfer service — for safeguarding their collections.

Pokémon Home supports data migration and storage across multiple games, providing a layer of protection against the kinds of losses now being reported.

While not a comprehensive solution for all save data, maintaining an active Pokémon Home account can help prevent the permanent loss of valued Pokémon collections. As of June 2024, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet remain among the Nintendo Switch platform’s best-selling titles, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo.

The experience serves as a reminder for both players and developers of the importance of robust backup solutions, particularly as Nintendo transitions to next-generation hardware like the Switch 2. For continued updates on Nintendo Switch 2 and related software support news, stay tuned to reputable outlets and Nintendo Direct announcements.

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